Hadn't seen this ...

[Taskr]

I've never seen one of these. Interesting chat with the fellow. Some here know, but perhaps others would like to have a go at its history and purpose

[MacKenzie]

I read about this recently. Worn by officers and NCOs (?) of one of the highland regiments - can't remember which right now.

Off to Google I go.

Edit: Argyll and Sutherland

http://www.theargylls.co.uk/dress.php

[KD Burke]

I actually considered having a kilt panel made in blue/red to go with one of my tartans for piping performances. I dropped the idea when I couldn't conceive of a satisfactory temporary and reversible means of attaching it to the kilt.

[Jock Scot]

I read about this recently. Worn by officers and NCOs (?) of one of the highland regiments - can't remember which right now.

Off to Google I go.

Edit: Argyll and Sutherland

http://www.theargylls.co.uk/dress.php

I am not absolutely sure in this case what the Argyll and Sutherlands do, but usually these panels,or rosetts are worn on the kilts of Officers and SENIOR NCO's of some Highland Regiments.

[Taskr]

Yes indeed. The wearer of this is an Officer with the Calgary Highlanders. The history told me was that of the panel being donned permanently after an embarrassing episode of the Regiment being inspected by a female Royal. The ties that would hold the front apron from flapping about in the breeze are no longer a part of what is now an entirely ceremonial item.
Which had me ponder the old photos I have seen of not ornamented kilt pins on military personnel and the 'high' position on the apron. Perhaps to readily pin to under apron when modesty necessary?

[JohntheBiker]

Here's what the panel looks like on the kilt of the CO of the Calgary Highlanders:

[OC Richard]

Yes that's the "panel" worn by sergeants and officers of The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (and certain Dominions regiments which have followed their uniform). It's worn by the same ranks that wear the badger sporrans, the exception being the Pipes & Drums, who don't wear the badger sporrans.

It's a pattern done in grass-green embroidery: a cartouche/border, three eight-pointed stars, and oftentimes two little circles on top, or sometimes only one little circle. Two elaborate rosettes are worn on the panel. This one has the biggest circles I've seen.



Here's the little circles as I usually see them



This photo is interesting because you can see what the panel's embroidery pattern looks like without the rosettes in the way



And there are two more rosettes on the pleats in back; this panel lacks the circles at top.



A fairly obscure oddity of the Argylls is that certain senior Sergeants wore a different sporran than the rest of the regiment; this is continued by the Pipe Major and Drum Major



Here's the Pipe Major and Drum Major in 1890 showing the style of white hair sporran worn then



It's very, very unusual to see this type of panel outwith the Argylls, but here it is! In red thread, on the Royal Stewart kilt of the Pipe Major of this Scottish Police Pipe Band



And I found this photo. I don't think the Cameron Highlanders ever wore such. Note this has the cartouche only without stars.